Folder



Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to folders. It is particularly directed to a folder for lingerie, hosiery, underwear, blouses, or the like merchandise which is usually kept on shelves in a store and then placed on the counter for inspection by the customers, and the like articles.

An object of this invention is to provide a folder of the character described for protecting articles placed therein against dust and perspiring hands, and to keep said articles clean, and comprising a substantially rigid tray, board or bottom, and flexible, preferaly transparent, flaps extending from the tray and adapted to be folded over articles on the tray, to cover the same, whereby the articles in the folder may be seen, and so that the flaps may be folded at any height to accommodate any height of pile on the tray.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a folder vof the character described, a pair of opposite flaps having side flange portions extending at right angles to said flaps, and adapted to be overlapped by another pair of opposite flaps, to provide dust-proof corners at the four corners of the folder.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a folder of the character described, weighted means on a pair of opposite flaps adapted to hold the flaps down on the pile of articles on the tray, Without necessity for fastening means.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable article of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to handle, attractive in appearance, and yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of Which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

5 In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a folder embodying the invention, with the flaps folded down 50 over articles placed on the tray;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2,-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.` 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; l

` Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the folder, with a pair of aps in horizontal position, and another pair of flaps in vertical position;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the weighted 5 member on one of the flaps; l

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 8 is a partial, cross-sectional View taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and 10 Fig. 9 is a reduced perspective view of the folder shown in Fig. 1. l

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a folder embodying the invention, for holding articles such as lingerie, hosiery, under- Wear, blouses, or the like merchandise which is usually -placed on shelves and then put on the counter for display or inspection by the customer.

The folder I0 comprises a rigid or semi-rigid bottom, board or tray Il, preferably of rectangular shape and made of cardboard or the like material. Attached to the side edges of the board I I are binding edges I2.

Stitched to the end edges of the board II, as at I3, is a member I5, made of Pliolm or the like transparent or translucent or colored film like material or other flexible, soft, sheet mate# rial. The member I5 has a central portion IB disposed beneath the board Il and flaps I1 extending from said central portion on opposite sides. The longitudinal edges of member I5 may be provided with binding edges I8. The stitching for the central portions of binding i8 serves to attach member I5 to the board II, as at I3.

The outer ends of the flaps I'l are folded under, and stitched to the flaps, as at 20, to form longitudinal pockets 2l at the end of each flap. Within each pocket 2l is a weighted member 22,'here shown for the purpose of illustration, in the form of a tubular exible member 23 containing spaced 40 metal balls 24, such as buckshot.

There is further stitched to the end edges of the board II, la pair of similar, symmetrically disposed aps 26. The flaps 26 are preferably likewise made of transparent flexible material, such as Pliolm or other suitable flexible sheet material. Each ilap 26 comprises a normally vertical wall 2l extending upwardly from an end edge of the board I I and stitched thereto by line of stitching I3. y

Extending from the portion 2l of each flap 2B are a pair of parallel side flange portions 28. The flange portions 28 of each member 26 ex-v tend-toward kthe flange portions 28 of the other of said members. The flanges 28 decrease in width toward the top, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The lower edges of the flanges 28 are stitched to the binding I2 at the side edges of the board II.

It will now be understood that articles 38, such as lingerie, hosiery, underwear, blouses, or the like garments or merchandise may be placed in a pile on the board or tray I I. The flaps 26 may then be folded over the top of the articles 30 and into overlapping position. The flaps I'I may then be folded upwardly and inwardly over the folded flaps 26, the weighted means 22 serving to hold the flaps l1 down in position,

It will be noted that the flaps I'I and 26 may be folded at any height to accommodate piles of various heights on the tray or board II. 'Ihe flaps I 'l overlap the flange portions 28 of the flaps 26, forming dust-proof corners to keep the articles within the folder clean.

The flaps 26 may be provided With binding edges 26a if desired.

It will now be understood that the articles within the folder are completely visible because of the transparency of the flaps.

The article I 0 is durable and clean because of the use of the binding tape at all edges of the iiaps. The reinforced rigid bottom helps to maintain the articles placed thereon in flat condition. The portion I6 of the member I5 covers the bottom of the board II to keep the board clean. The Pliolm sheet may be washed.

In retail or department stores, Where such articles as lingerie, hosiery, underwear, blouses, or the like merchandise are usually kept on 'shelves and then put on the counter for inspection by the customer, it has been found that such merchandise often becomes soiled because of dust and handling by perspiring hands. Such articles may be placed in the folder I0 and kept clean and protected, without hindering the visibility of the articles due to packing.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a folder Illa, embodying the invention, and illustrating a modied construction. The folder Ia, likewise, has a rigid or semi-rigid bottom, board or tray 48 of cardboard or the like material and of generally rectangular shape.

The board 4i) is covered by sheets 4I and 42 of Pliolm or the like transparent film like material at the top and bottom, and is provided With a pair cf flaps 43 extending from one pair of opposite edges, and a pair of flaps 44 extending from the other pair of opposite edges. The flaps 43 are attached to the board 40 by binding edges 45, and the flaps 44 are attached to the board 40 by binding edges 46.

Attached to the side edges of the board 40, as by the binding edges 45, are a pair of central straps 48 provided with complementary snap fasteners 49 for attaching the straps together in various adjusted positions. If desired the snap fasteners 49 may be omitted ,from the straps, and the straps made longer so that they may be tied together.

The bottom board II or 48 may be made of wood, metal, composition or other suitable material, and the flaps may be attached thereto in any suitable manner.

The flaps of the folder are preferably made of a flexible rubber hydrochloride sheet film material, such as is known by the commercial name Pliolm. Such flaps are washable and will not crack upon being folded and unfolded, and will not be affected materially by moisture in the atmosphere. Such flaps are clean, transparent, and may be made in various colors.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A folder of the character described, comprising a substantially rigid tray, a pair of flaps extending outwardly from the side edges of said tray, and a pair of aps extending upwardly from the end edges of said tray, said second pair of flaps each being provided with a pair of parallel side flange portions, the flange portions of one flap of said second pair of flaps extending toward the flange portions of the other flap of said second pair of flaps, and said flanges extending substantially to the ends of said second pair of flaps.

2. A folder comprising a bottom tray on which articles may be placed, a plurality of pairs of oppositely extending, flexible flaps on said tray adapted to be folded over articles placed on the tray, a pair of said oppositely extending flaps being provided with side extensions attached to the tray and overlapped by adjacent flaps, said flaps being made of transparent material, and said side extensions extending substantially to the outer ends of the flaps from which they extend.

3. A folder comprising a substantially rigid bottom tray, a pair of oppositely extending flaps on said tray, and a second pair of opposite flaps extending from said tray, and disposed between said first pair of flaps, said ilaps being made of transparent flexible material, one pair of flaps being provided with flanges at the side edges thereof adapted to be overlapped by the other pair of flaps, said flanges decreasing in width t0- ward their outer ends, and extending substantially to the outer ends of the flaps from which they extend.

4. A folder comprising a substantially rigid flat member of rectangular shape, a transparent flexible sheet disposed beneath said member and having end portions extending beyond a pair of opposite edges of said member, whereby said member is superimposed over the central portion of said sheet, the extending end portions of said sheet forming flaps adapted to be folded over the top of said member and being of such length as to overlap, said sheet being attached to said member, and a pair of transparent flaps attached to the other pair of opposite edges of said member, and forming flaps adapted to be folded over the top of said member and being of such length as to overlap, said second pair of flaps being formed with integral side flanges attached to first pair of opposite edges of the member and adapted to be overlapped by the extending portions of said sheet said side flanges extending at least for the major portion of the flaps by which they are carried.

5. A folder for lingerie, hosiery, underwear, blouses, and the like articles, comprising a substantially rigid bottom tray on which said articles may be piled. a plurality of thin, flexibla,

transparent, pairs of oppostely extending hydrochloride rubber flaps, attached to said bottom tray and extending therefrom, and adapted to be folded over the pile of articles on the tray, to cover the same, whereby the articles in the folder may be seen through the flaps, and whereby said flaps may be folded at any height to accommodate the pile on the tray, each pair of flaps being of such length as to overlap, a hydrochloride rubber sheet beneath said tray covering the underside thereof, and a hydrochloride rubber sheet covering the top surface of the tray.

6. A folder comprising a bottom tray on which articles may be placed, a plurality of pairs of oppositely extending flexible flaps on said tray, said flaps being of a length to overlap one another in operative position and adapted to be folded over articles placed on the tray, a pair of said oppositely extending flaps being provided With integral side iianges extending inwardly along the adjacent side of the tray and secured thereto, said side iianges extending at least for the major portion of the ilaps by which they are carried.

DANIEL B. SCHWARTZMAN. 

